A New YEAR 2023

Good Morning ALL! How are you this winter morning? It was snowing outside earlier. So nice to have these warmer temperatures but with them comes moisture, meaning freezing rain or SNOW! Well this has been a trying morning thus far. It took me 40 minutes to get likely about 1/2 of Alvin’s medication into him and the rest landed on the sofa or in his fur. So always cleanup after the medicine. This was the least amount that he has ever taken. What a guy! Not sure what else I can do? Thankfully he does not have much left to take. Hopefully there is enough to at least coat his stomach. I don’t know. He will be eating breakfast in a few minutes which is 30 minutes after he had the medication. I am praying to whomever may listen to please make him well. Between the demands to go into the office and Alvin’s health, I am super frustrated. Not the best way to start the work week. Okay, I have vented time too “let it go.” Best line ever and from an animated movie, no less. I know the words were from the song in the movie “Frozen.”

On this Monday, I am grateful to be working from home. I am grateful that we have good food to eat. I am grateful to be surrounded by supportive family and friends. I am grateful to be employed. I am grateful to be living this life.

Is my life perfect? Well, no. Is it pretty great for the most part, well YES! So I will get over these moments this morning and get on with the day. Alvin needs to have breakfast. I will need to finish this post first. I will work and do the best job that I can. I will be a good human being. The best that I can be in any given moment.

This will be short. We did have a great weekend in between the medication episodes. I wonder what he is doing downstairs as I left him. Just needed to put some space and time between him. Yesterday, my friend Signe came for coffee & visit in the morning. It was nice to see her – feels like a long time.

Take a deep breath and have a great day. That is what I am doing.

Continuing to live this life with kindness, respect, compassion, patience, love, laughter, understanding, gratitude, focus, possibilities and coffee.

Looking forward to the coffee this morning.

Always, Carol & Alvin

P.S. even though we have our moments, I love Alvin with all my heart. Always trying to do the best for him. Just in case you had other thoughts!

Second Half of the NEW YEAR.

Welcome to Thursday, July 23, 2020.

Wow, not many days left in July 2020.

The time just seems to zip by.

We had rain earlier and was raining when we were up at 4:30.

I did not hear any thunder but then again, I had the electric fan running most of the night.

Slept in our bed last night and we both were awake at 4:30, thankfully did not stay up.

Makes for an early night if up that early.

Although if it had not been raining the sun would have been coming up.

It is muggy in the office this morning even with the windows open.

Looks like more rain.

 

So how are we all doing at almost the end of 5 months since this COVID19 virus became so much on our radar.

Perhaps on some more so than others.

With every country on the planet affected by COVID19 which I believe is the majority at this point; every different leader and government has taken a different approach.

Some were fast to shut down out of country air travel.

Others were not.

There were countries that took very cautious approaches and with diligence they were able to lower the amount of cases and deaths.

While others just seemed to stand by and hope for the best.

No one knows at this point the real numbers because they are only as good as they are reported.

Also I read some place that countries were initially treating any deaths as COVID19 and not doing any autopsies.

That is scary but sort of understandable in a way.

Anyway, if we all listen to our government health officials we can make a difference.

In public wear a mask.

Wash your hands often.

Social Distancing.

Just be careful.

To be honest since I came home to work on March 19, 2020 – the most people at one time that I have been around other than me is 3.

So any numbers larger than that …. honestly kind of freak me out.

I know that this is because I have not been out to the grocery stores and in public.

So this is something that I will have to get used to and be prepared with.

Food for thought.

If we do not work together …. we fall apart.

 

Well time to head to work.

Alvin is doing much better, thankfully.

I think the second set of medication has made a huge difference.

Time will tell when that medication has all been taken.

 

I hope that you are safe and in good health.

Living with kindness and respect.

I/We, shall remain,

As Always, Carol & Alvin

Living … One day at a time.

Hello,

Well this is not how I had planned or expected these past few days to be.

In a blink of an eye life can change and does quite often.

Still don’t know the actual cause of Alvin’s “grief” but at least we have medication.

So shall I start at the beginning as I have not posted much over the past few days.

Last Friday was a regular day …. worked ….. my daughter gave me a ride home …. I had stopped at renewed my driver license.

I do think that I may have posted that information …. after my daughter left we went right into our regular after work.

I took him for a walk followed by supper.

After supper we had been invited out to a friends house.

Now with the weather taking a turn I was unable to take Alvin with me.

So he stayed home.

I was gone from 7:00 until 10:25 p.m.

As usual I left the television on and lights.

He was happy to see me.

We went outside and then upstairs to bed.

From that point until this moment things changed.

He was not himself.

So did he eat something?

Or perhaps it was stress over the last few weeks with the significant change to our routine that being my vacation.

Being away from home and me.

He has become even more stuck to routine as he ages.

 

At some point I believe around 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning …. he needed to go outside.

Then it was all downhill for the boy.

He was shaking …. had bad bad GAS …. so bad it startled me and scared him.

The gas blow-out was so bad it appeared to have ruptured a blood vessel.

So blood then was added to it all.

We have been one poopy mess for days.

The gas factor continued until yesterday.

We were up and down every couple of hours from Friday night until we slept for six hours on Sunday night.

Monday and last nights we slept until the alarm went off.

 

He has definitely got upset intestines, “tummy” and his bum is raw.

If you remember Mr. Alvin is not so fond of car rides, not at all.

Keeping watch to ensure that he was not dehydrated (still drank lots of water during this whole episode), I decided to wait until his Vet was open on Tuesday.

I called them twice or three times on Tuesday morning only to get their automated message.

This concerned me as I knew they were to be opened.

So I just decided to walk over there with Alvin.

When we arrived we found a fish tank with four turtles, large ones sitting in front of the door.

I tried the door and it was locked.

The OPEN signed was not turned on.

I peeked through the window and no lights or movement.

So decided to take a photo of the turtles and head home quickly.

We got home and I called our City line for assistance.

I was able to get someone from Animal Control – Peace Officer to go and pick up the turtles.

So now what.

I was texting with my daughter and son-in-law as Alvin still had diarrhea and needed to be checked.

Clearly nothing was going to stop and heal without medical intervention.

My daughter remembered the Spay/Neuter Clinic not far away from us and they said in their ad – they took new clients.

I was stressed at this point …. between me Alvin and the turtles.

Before leaving home I had perked a pot of coffee but only drank a sip before unplugging it.

So I decided to have a mug of coffee and just sit for a few minutes.

Alvin was okay for the moment and the turtles were going to be rescued.

Just breathe …..

What a morning.

After the coffee, I was going to call the new VET but then had this strange feeling that I should try our Vet again.

The receptionist answered, I was dumbfounded.

She explained that she had mixed up the dates therefore came in later than she was scheduled.

Our Vet arrives at 10:00 and I was there just after 9:00 a.m.

What a relief.

I explained what had happened with our first visit and the turtles and what was going on with Mr. Alvin.

She said the Animal Control were there and that the Clinic had an arrangement with several different animal rescue groups.

One of them had dropped off the turtles thinking someone would be there at 8:00 a.m.

I was able to make an appointment for Mr. Alvin to see his own Doctor at 2:30 p.m.

What a relief.

So we just relaxed and waited until it was time to go.

Of course, during that time Alvin had one of his small meals.

We left the house about 2:10 p.m. as I thought we may have some stops along the way which we did.

Poor boy.

Once arriving at the Clinic, he was weighed and we went into one of the exam rooms.

The Vet Assistant came in and took his heart rate and then his temperature.

I knew when I asked about where the thermometer had to be inserted and she said his “bum” that things were not going to be pretty.

He cried so loud and sharp that we both jumped.

My poor, poor little guy.

That would have hurt so bad as his bum was raw.

After that we waited a few minutes for his Doctor.

I went through our last few days and what was going on in our house.

I explained about our trip and the changes to his routine.

She asked me some questions.

At the end of the exam she said he will need some Probiotics to heal his intestines, his insides and Metronidazole to stop the diarrhea and some salve for his raw bum.

Upon receiving instructions we were out front to pay.

I also had her clean his ears as I had not been able to these past few days.

After payment and final run through instructions we were on our way.

Upon returning home I gave him his medication.

Alvin’s Doctor had put some salve on his bum at the clinic.

I am happy to say that since his first medication there has been no diarrhea which is great.

Doctor, our Vet said she would like him to go one whole day with no bowel movement and only peeing.

Which so far so good.

Medication.

Well the Prebiotic is a chewable tablet and there has been no issue with that but the other pill the one that will stop the diarrhea well that has been another story.

I told his Doctor “that he is such a foodie there will be no problem with him taking the pills.”

He proved me wrong.

So I am trying to get creative.

He has now had three of each pill and I hope so hard that later today he has a regular poop.

My life has been way too much about “poop” as of late and I, we are ready for back to normal.

The weather has been great.

I am so grateful for the change in weather.

Sunshine has been such a relief.

I only want to go on our regular walks and then get back to work.

 

I hope that you all are enjoying life.

My life has been stressful the past few days but am hopeful Mr. Alvin is on the mend.

So hard to see my little guy suffering.

Despite his pain he has remained a happy guy.

 

A kind respectful gesture can be life changing.

 

Always, Carol & Alvin

 

P.S.

After I wrote this post earlier today I realized that I had missed out some very important information.

Throughout this stressful time both my daughter and son-in-law played an important role.

They offered up support and advice.

One of the bits of advice was from my son-in-law and that was back on Sunday in the thick of things when I was at my wits end.

He suggested putting Alvin immediately on a “bland diet” which would be cooked chicken breast (with no salt or spices) and white rice (no salt or butter added).

As I did not have any chicken breasts or rice in the house that afternoon; I quickly ran over to the nearby grocery store to pick up these items.

I added to this list some paper towel as it was needed during this time.

Upon returning home I quickly boiled up the chicken breasts and made some white rice, just plain old MINUTE RICE.

After I had everything cooked up I made a batch up for Mr. Alvin consisting of a ratio of 1/3 cup chicken to 2/3 cup of white rice.

I fed him half of the mixture and then two hours later fed him the other half.

I would say this was the beginning of a turning point for Alvin as it was that night that we had a full six hours of sleep.

We both desperately needed this sleep for health and sanity.

Alvin’s Doctor was pleased to hear that we had done this and I would never have thought of this; if had not been for my son-in-law.

I am eternally grateful to him for this bit of advice.

So I forgot to mention this earlier but he is to remain on this diet for up to five days.

Once he begins to have regular bowel movements I can slowly start to introduce his regular food back into his diet.

 

It is about 12:35 p.m. and I am pleased to report that Mr. Alvin has not had any “diarrhea” (oh, how I despise that word) since about 3:00 p.m. yesterday afternoon.

With luck, medication and prayers, he will be regular soon.

I am excited to get back to normal for both of us.

 

Life is full of ups and downs.

It is all how you view the whole picture that determines how your life will be.

I chose to look at it through light rose coloured glasses, seeing the glass half full and the positive in ALL situations and in ALL people.

Learning at each step of the way.

Until tomorrow……..

 

 

 

 

 

Thought for the day ….

Good Morning and Welcome to Wednesday the 5th day of September, 2018.

Wow, mid first week of September 2018.

That came fast.

I was at home under the weather yesterday – so I did not post on my blog.

I hope that life is finding you well, energized and happy.

I am doing well.

Alvin and I had a nice walk last night.

Always makes a person feel better to get some fresh air.

 

My carpool is on vacation this week so catching the bus this morning.

Back to the normal bus schedule now as the kids are back to school.

I will catch the earlier one which gets me to work about twenty minutes early.

 

Alvin is semi curled up on his blue blanket on the office floor beside me.

He is like an attachment.

When I am at home – he is never far away.

Oh, how I love this little guy.

 

The temperature seems to be warming and ended up being warmer than original forecast.

Today mid to late teens so that will be nice.

 

Alvin is noticeably licking his paws now.

Not sure if the new “egg shell membrane” medicine is working better or worse than the glucosamine.

 

I was watching a bit of a show in between sleeping yesterday and caught Jamie Lee Curtis speaking about her life.

She said that she never was particularly good at school or sports and was not considered to be pretty.

She just went by unnoticed until as a young adult she started to do the things that she was interested in acting and later writing.

Jamie just published her 12th children’s book.

Very inspirational.

 

Well almost time to grab my things and my shoes and hit the trail to the bus.

I hope that you all have an awesome day.

 

We have to remember that having all the education in the world does not guarantee you happiness UNLESS you are passionate about your chosen path.

I am not saying that education is not good nor am I saying that it does not help.

 

Thought for the day …..

Good Morning and Welcome to Sunday the 27th day of May, 2018.

Another gorgeous day has begun.

Yesterday with the cool breeze was comfortable and most enjoyable.

We had Master Teddy spend the day with us.

After supper we went for a walk which went well.

Not too much one going one way and the other.

We bumped into one of our neighbours out with her three small sons for a walk.

The family was on their way home as were, we.

They were happy to see PUPPIES so we finished our walks together.

Nice to visit.

The kiddos were so cute.

One of them placed his hands on the sidewalk and bum in the air was trying to race Teddy.

Oh, how we giggled.

Both of us wished that we would have had a camera along.

This family has a doggie named “Miss Daisy” and she had stayed home due to illness.

She is in kidney failure and on medication.

Her Momma asked if we would stop by as she would like to see Alvin.

Daisy and Alvin get along famously.

Alvin is like this social butterfly that everyone just loves.

Miss Daisy was feeling lots better due in part her Momma thought to a change in meds.

Momma is a nurse and has been given her IV fluids which helps keep her hydrated.

Daisy, Alvin and Teddy ran around their front yard and sprinkled in between where the two old boys as the youngest one was in the stroller as he is 1.5 years old.

The boys are 8 and almost 5 years old.

This Mom works as a Nurse at a nearby hospital.

Busy lady.

Daisy is in our thoughts and prayers.

She is 13 years old and we hope that she has many good years left to live.

Her Momma was worried about her and as her Husband is working out of town; she certainly has her hands full.

I volunteered to help out if she needs me.

Any time day or night.

That is what friends and neighbours are for?  Right?

Yesterday was just one of those great days.

Days are always better when surrounded by puppies, a kitty, a gecko and CHILDREN.

 

I also spent time with Humphrey, the Cat and Cinder, the Gecko.

They are in my care while their Momma is away on vacation.

The right amount of work, fun and relaxation and exercise.

Perfection.

 

Well almost time to hit the shower as I am invited to a birthday party this morning.

One of our trio of friends is celebrating a birthday (early as it is on Thursday) and the other one is hosting.

So I get to just show up.

We have such a great time.

I picked up a bottle of wine for her and a turtle for her yard.

Not a real turtle, of course.

I love turtles.

Something a bit different.

Looking forward to chatting and laughing.

 

I hope that you all had the most perfect weekend.

Happy Sunday.

Special Hello to:  my sister and all of my girl friends all over the world.

ALWAYS, Carol & Alvin